I Recently Became An Audiophile.

[DeadRock]

The little bit of treatment I did rendered immediate positive results...I think all-in about 100 bucks...a pizza night w wine

 

[GChief]

The little bit of treatment I did rendered immediate positive results...I thin all-in about 100 bucks...a pizza night w wine

And most people have things around the house that they can use to try things out before spending money

 

[DeadRock]

And most people have things around the house that they can use to try things out before spending money

eggzachary

 

[maxhifi]

don’t worry about me. My audio system is as personal as it gets. It started out as a CD player hooked up to an old Bluetooth speaker for my dad’s birthday, and grew into a system that sounds like angels singing. I got my JBL 4301’s from the parent of a good friend, and restored them to near mint condition, all by myself. The only reason I’m interested in tube audio (and the only reason I know that it exists) is because of my grandad, who worked at NIST on vacuum technologies, and was on of the lead developers to build a new case for the Declaration of Independence. He talked a lot about vacuum tube tech. Hell, he’s the baseline reason I’m an audiophile. I’m willing to go down these rabbit holes, and that’s because someone tossed a carrot down there for me

It does sound like you're having fun! I just wrote that post because forms and videos have a tendency to be an echo chamber.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

It does sound like you're having fun! I just wrote that post because forms and videos have a tendency to be an echo chamber.

I’m having a blast! Check out this audio rack I got on eBay for 70 bucks

 

[Pio1980]

i guess it isn’t a good idea to dip your feet in audiophile infested waters, thanks for the tip

Hey! It's ok to be curious.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

Hey! It's ok to be curious.

I guess that’s what these forums are for; the curious getting answers from the wise

 

[Pio1980]

I guess that’s what these forums are for; the curious getting answers from the wise

Some of us are so removed by time and experience from our origins that we could learn from you to guide your curiosity away from our mistakes.

 

[maxhifi]

I’m having a blast! Check out this audio rack I got on eBay for 70 bucksView attachment 2985377

When I was growing up, nearly everyone's parents had some version of that 8 track receiver thing sitting in their basement. Some had a BSR record changer built onto the top, while others had an external turntable like yours. It's kind of neat to see someone appreciating one. It's not a piece of real hifi gear, but it is most definitely a relic of a time and place, and has some cultural value for that alone.

 

[nailer]

I guess that’s what these forums are for; the curious getting answers from the wise

Then best ignore what I write.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

When I was growing up, nearly everyone's parents had some version of that 8 track receiver thing sitting in their basement. Some had a BSR record changer built onto the top, while others had an external turntable like yours. It's kind of neat to see someone appreciating one. It's not a piece of real hifi gear, but it is most definitely a relic of a time and place, and has some cultural value for that alone.

Yeah, I understand that it’s not hifi gear, that’s why I’m getting a proper amp

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

It’s still super cool to have, I got an 8track for it, and it’s the only one I’ll ever get. As for the cassette tape and record player, once I have some proper audio gear, I’m sure it will sound great

 

[Joe Dawson]

To the OPs questions.

Off the top of my head, there are several inherent differences between SS and Tube amplifiers as well as external factors.

1. Capacitance within the amplifying device.

• Vacuum tubes have a vacuum as a dielectric between the elements, hence virtually no DA or ESR characteristics.
• SS devices, of course, have solid, semi conductor material with high DA and ESR characteristics.

2. Miller Capacitance. The plate to no. 1 grid/Drain to Gate etc, forms a capacitance, and that capacitance times the ~gain
of the stage is called the Miller Capacitance, which the preceding stage "sees".

3. The internal junction capacitance in a some FETs varies with voltages across the junctions until ~25 volts and higher.
Near zero volts junction, I have measured some HEXFET’s capacitance to be some 1,000pf. That is a 0,001uf capacitor.
(See point 2 again.)

• A. Thus the Miller Capacitance varies as the signal varies in amplitude.
• B. Tubes capacitances are so so much smaller than output SS and varies very little. Oh, some input tiny transistors
• might have small junction capacitances, anything larger has to be checked/questioned.
• 
  
• 4. The power supplies are quite different between Tube and SS. Where as vacuum tubes usually uses small/medium
• size filter capacitors, SS generally uses vastly larger filter capacitors, in the thousands of ufd. The article "Picking Capacitors",
• by Walter Jung/Richard Marsh, shows that electrolytic capacitors can have nonlinear effects in the upper hundreds of
• HZ, and resonances in the very low khz. (See Below Attachment 1 and 2 poly caps.) The ear is very sensitive in the
• Midband frequencies. This has a negative sonic effects.
• 
  
• 5. Another aspect, the Dielectric Absorption (DA) of electrolytic capacitors is some 10-15% while Polypropylene
• capacitors have a DA of ~.02%. 10% of 1 volt musical signal means 0,1volts of
• the signal is basically lost. 10 volts means 1 volt is basically lost.
• 
  
• 6. Vacuum tube power supplies can be designed using polypropylene capacitors. SS is questionable.
• 
  
• 7. Triodes produce predominately even order harmonic distortion while solid state produces predominantly odd
• harmonics.
• 
  
• In short, a typical AB1 Push Pull and Class A vacuum tube amplifiers can be designed for virtually perfect reproduction
• while a typical A, AB1 solid state amplifier can not due to the inherent internal and external flaws.

A caveat. Just because tube preamps/amps can be designed superior does not mean they are. In fact, as many have learned,
there is a range from poor to excellent designs of both Tube and SS. However, tubes have the capability of perfection.

Keep on truckin.

joe

 

[tubelectron]

I just recently became an audiophile a couple months ago, so I'm pretty new to the whole deal. What are the benefits of using a tube amplifier over a solid state or a digital amp?

Oh, to be honest - and as a tube amp builder : you will find equally excellent instruments in both technologies : SS and Tubes... Assuming they are both and each correctly designed, of course.

I write this because the requirements are not the same, and often SS designers forget this, which can be detrimental for the reliability with time in modern tube circuits.

T

 

[N0rt0n]

It’s still super cool to have, I got an 8track for it, and it’s the only one I’ll ever get. As for the cassette tape and record player, once I have some proper audio gear, I’m sure it will sound great

Where are you located? If there are any of us near you, there could be an opportunity to hear and see some different gear. I have done that in the past for a local enthusiast.

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

Where are you located? If there are any of us near you, there could be an opportunity to hear and see some different gear. I have done that in the past for a local enthusiast.

I’m located around the dc area, pretty close to the MD/DC border

 

[N0rt0n]

I’m located around the dc area, pretty close to the MD/DC border

OK, good to know. I am a bit far, outside Philly but there may be others in your area. You could search for any Audiophile Clubs in your area or try to put together a meetup or similar. If there are any physical stores near you, no matter if you cannot afford or not, you would be doing yourself a great service by visiting them to see what is out there for a true reference point and future goals. I had some audio in nthe family when growing up but when I was in my early 20s I hung out at a local shop and got to see and hear some of the most expensive world class systems available at the time. I drooled and thought never in my life but over the years I have been able to put together a few good sounding setups after saving and a little flipping of gear. Also by buying and selling I was able to rotate many pairs of speakers thru. I don't know your age but don't rush things too much. I get you now have the bug but mistakes are easy to make and sometimes costly.

 

[zackthedog]

I’m located around the dc area, pretty close to the MD/DC border

Whereabouts, if you don't mind my asking? I used to live in Mount Rainier. ;-) There's a very nice group of hobbyists in the DC area, who hold fairly regular get-togethers to share their new projects. A pretty skilled bunch, and there are some excellent tube systems. You don't have to be a DIYer to join. It would be a great opportunity to hear some different types of tube setups. They're very welcoming, and it's not a typical "competitive" audiophile club. Any of them would be happy to encourage your interest in the hobby. I still correspond with the group quite a bit. It's easy to join and introduce yourself.

DCAudioDIY.com • Index page

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

OK, good to know. I am a bit far, outside Philly but there may be others in your area. You could search for any Audiophile Clubs in your area or try to put together a meetup or similar. If there are any physical stores near you, no matter if you cannot afford or not, you would be doing yourself a great service by visiting them to see what is out there for a true reference point and future goals. I had some audio in nthe family when growing up but when I was in my early 20s I hung out at a local shop and got to see and hear some of the most expensive world class systems available at the time. I drooled and thought never in my life but over the years I have been able to put together a few good sounding setups after saving and a little flipping of gear. Also by buying and selling I was able to rotate many pairs of speakers thru. I don't know your age but don't rush things too much. I get you now have the bug but mistakes are easy to make and sometimes costly.

I found this one store, Command Performance, down in Alexandria VA, which is doable for me, I might check them out sometime, since I want to shop local

 

[Yeeterkeeter]

Whereabouts, if you don't mind my asking? I used to live in Mount Rainier. ;-) There's a very nice group of hobbyists in the DC area, who hold fairly regular get-togethers to share their new projects. A pretty skilled bunch, and there are some excellent tube systems. You don't have to be a DIYer to join. It would be a great opportunity to hear some different types of tube setups. They're very welcoming, and it's not a typical "competitive" audiophile club. Any of them would be happy to encourage your interest in the hobby. I still correspond with the group quite a bit. It's easy to join and introduce yourself.

DCAudioDIY.com • Index page

Silver Spring, close to the downtown area

I will make sure to check out that forum, thanks for the link.